THE YOUNGEST ISLAND

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 179, 27 January 1912, Page 9

THE YOUNGEST ISLAND

GREAT EXCITEMENT. The birth of an island off the coast of Trinidad early in November created a great deal of excitement in the colony. A fisherman saw the first indications of the strange phenomenon on the morning of November 4, when he noticed a small cone of black rock protruding from the sea at a point where he had often cast his net. He rowed closer and found that the water was bubbling round the rock. A few hours later there was a loud report, and a column of smoke and fire arose front the sea. The news was communicated to the Governor of Trinidad, Sir George Le Hunte, and he proceeded with a small party to the spot, where lie arrived the next day. He found that the island had grown until it showed an area of fully two acres and a-half above the surface of the water. The surface was still hot, but the Governor landed and examined the addition that had been made to the colony. The island was composed of volcanic mud, mixed with rock and the fossilised remains of marine animals. The highest point was about fifteen feet above sea level, mid steam was coming from two craters, each being some six feet in diameter. (las could be heard rumbling below, and there was a strong smell of oil and sulphur. An expert opinion was to the efleet that the island had been produced bv the eruption of a mud volcano oil the sen-floor. Natural gas and oil are plentiful in Trinidad and strange movements have been reported on many .occasions. The flames that were noticed may have been due to the ignition of gas by a spark struck from the iron pyrites, fragments of which were to be seen on the surface. The island is situated in the Bay of Erin, where Columbus is said to have landed on his discovery of Trinidad. The colored inhabitants of the adjacent coast were much perturbed by the remarkable occurrence, which aroused all their superstitious fancies, and it will he many a year before they will dare to set foot on the new territory.